2011 Hagafen Lodi Roussanne: Ripken Vineyard

Roussanne is a beautiful, hard to find alone, Rhone varietal. For those who are not familiar with this wine we consider it the Sauvignon Blanc of Chardonnay. If that does not make sense now, it will when you try this wonderful wine. The nose of this alluring wine has notes of sweet hay and wild flowers. The wine moves seamlessly into a mouth of Galia melon, lychee, Asian pear and green apple. A crisp mouth feel, but with a soft creamy edge, finishes out the tasting experience.

This Roussanne is produced from grapes grown in the Ripken Vineyard, a site renowned for its ability to lend white varietals complexity and fruitiness, qualities required for a food friendly wine. Roussanne, especially this one, is an extremely versatile wine that pairs well with foods ranging from grilled fish to garlic chicken to creamy pastas.